Playing a key part of life in Lurgan

The paper is promoting a writing competition for youngsters from the town, inviting them to share their ideas on what Lurgan was like 400 years ago,

Set up in 1890, the Lurgan Mail is one of the oldest newspapers in Ireland and has been a key part of life in the town throughout those years.

The area covered by the paper has changed dramatically over the years.

The established villages of Waringstown, Dollingstown, Donacloney and Maralin have all flourished and expanded. There has also been continuing expansion in other rural areas like Aghagallon and around the lough shore.

In 1936 Morton Newspapers was established and the 'MAIL' was purchased by John Morton Snr. His son James joined him in 1948 and not long after the first of many sister papers, The Portadown Times, was brought into the Morton 'fold'.

The 'MAIL' takes great pride in serving the community not only in Lurgan but in the surrounding areas.

As well as the rural areas already mentioned the 'MAIL' also features stories from the estates that form the central areas of Brownlow.

Reports cover a wide range of activities from hard news stories to features and some of the lighter moments in the community at large. On the sports front the 'MAIL' provides coverage of a host of sports.

While justly proud of its past the 'MAIL' has also embraced new technology to provide readers with a view of life in Lurgan right across the world with our website on www.lurganmail.co.uk